Quilting-frame



(No Model.)

J. PRATT.

, V QUILTING FRAME.

No. 274,967. Patented Apr.3, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN PRATT, OF CENTRE, ALABAMA.

QUILTING-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 274,967, dated. April 3, 1883.

Application filed November 17, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Centre, in .the countyofGherokee and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Quilting-Frame, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to that class of quiltin g-frames designed to be used with a sewingmachine; and the objects of my invention are to provide for the equable and uniform feed of the frame; second, to provide for the convenient rolling of the material quilted from one roller to the other and back to make the distance between rows of stitching; third, to provide for and regulatethe friction of said rollers in said rolling, so as to stretch the quilted material as much as desired; fourth, to providc for the easy and straight motion of frame by suspending it on an elevated flexible rail; fifth, to stretch and straighten said rail; sixth, to adjust height of rail to sewing-machine; seventh, to adjust the balancing of said rollers as quilted material is shifted from one to the other; eighth, to provide for a lateral move-,

ment of frame to allow of circular stitching. I attain these objectsthrough the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of frame on the line A A, Fig. 4, looking from the left-in said Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a detached view of one of the blocks for straining the rail, showing slots in same for shifting its vertical position. Fig. 3 isadetached elevation of the opposite block for the same purpose. Fig. 4 is a plan of frame. Fig. 5 is an elevation of diminished view of whole mechanism.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through the several views. it

The quilting-frame is composed of rollers F and inverted-T-shaped frames M O, in which said rollers revolve. The tail-pieces H of the frame have each a friction roller or wheel, B, at their upper end for traversing the rail S, on which it travels. The rollers have eachadisk, P, at one end for conveniently turning them in their bearings; also, a cord or wire, w, se

cured at intervals from end to end, to which may be conveniently stitched the quilting material. That one of the inverted-T frames at the disk end of the rollers is constructed of two slats, M, bolted together horizontally, and so shaped when clamped together as to form aslot betweenthem. Bymeansofsaidboltsandtheir taps any desired friction in rotating may be given the rollers, and thus any desired tension to the material quilted. The homologous frame atthe opposite end of rollers is similar in construction, except that the bolts may be dis-. pensed with. In both inverted-T frames the tail-pieces H are secured to the horizontal parts M 0, respectively, by bolts passing through their slots and through bearings formed in the lower ends of the said tail-pieces. Each of these hearings is fitted with a ring, J, and washer I, and the pressure of thenutand washers of said bolts is on said rings and slats M 0, while the tail-piece may swing freely on the ring. Thus the tail-piece may be fixed at any point of the slot to adjust the balance of weight of rollers at different stages of the work, as the quilt is rolled more on one or the other roller, and yet be free to turn easily in bearings. This device also allows thequilting frame to be moved laterally on the rail as a pivot as well as with the rail, without thus lifting the roller under the machine-arm from the table of the sewing-machine, since it may swing not only on the rail as a pivot, but on the joints of the tail-pieces, and thus may move laterally in a horizontal plane, while if the tail-pieces were held rigidly in their bearings the whole inverted-T frame would have to move together with the rail as apivot, and at every oscillation the rollers would be raised from the sewing-machine table. The object of the device is to make the frame capable of being moved laterally in a horizontal plane, so as to make the zigzag or curved lines of sewing, and at the same time to shift the balance of the rollers so that the center of gravity will be on the anti-friction rollers. The said rail S may be a stout wire, a strip or band of metal, or a cord, or any flexible material. It is strained and straightened between blocks N and K, screwed to opposite walls of a room or to standards, which blocks are slotted, so that they may be moved up or down without withdrawing screws, to accommodate height of sewing-machine. Asecondary block, K, is hinged to block K, and also linked therewith byabolt and tap, U. .By running the tap up the bolt the blocks K K are brought nearer and the rail strained to the requisite tautness. Frame O is removed from the rollers to place one of them under the arm of the sewing-machine. A cord, T, fastened to the quilting-frame and passing over pulleys G O and terminating in a Weight, V, moves the frame gently and uniformly, or rather subjects it to the machinefeed.

Having thus described my invention and the mode of operating it, I claim- 1. A quilting-frame provided with antifriction rollers combined with and traveling upon a flexible traveling-way or rail, strained by means of blocks K K N, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A quilting-frame composed of rollers F,

inverted-T-shape frames M O, anti frietion rollers B, and rings J, bolted and constructed substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. Blocks K K, in combination with their connecting-bolt and flexible railS,and a quilting-frame running upon the same, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of a flexible rail, S, frame F, constructed as described, and acord, T, pulley 0 G, and weight V, substantially as and for the purpose described.

JOHN PRATT.

Attest:

THOS. BRADFORD, ELLIS HALE. 

